Many winter activities for kids involve snow but not every place sees snow! No matter where you live here are 5 fun winter activities to enjoy — with or without snow!
1. Freeze Nature
Make space in your freezer for one of the most simple winter activities for toddlers. Collect pinecones, leaves and berries then put each into a plastic container and submerge with water before sliding into the freezer. Encourage kids to peek in on the freezing process to watch air bubbles form and ice slowly crust over their finds. Finally, let them hold and observe nature frozen in time!
2. Outdoor Tic-Tac-Toe
Chances are you have access to plenty of dried twigs and branches lying on the ground. Turning those sticks (along with a handful of round rocks for the O’s) into a quick game of tic-tac-toe is one of the coolest outdoor activities for kids of any age.
3. Fishing For Ice
Fishing with kids is a classic outdoor activity but ice fishing for panfish with them this winter may not be possible. Try this simple scientific experiment instead! Pour cold water into a container then fill with ice cubes. With a piece of string in their hands, ask your kids to ‘fish’ for ice. They won’t get a ‘bite’ but now sprinkle salt onto the wet end of their string and try again. Salt lowers the temperature of ice but because the ice cube ‘fish’ are still surrounded by freezing temperatures, it’ll freeze again fast, causing ice to form over the string allowing your young angler to ‘reel in’ their chilly catch!
4. Make Tree Faces
This fun DIY winter activity for toddlers uses leaves (whole for bushy eyebrows, rolled up for handlebar mustaches), smooth round stones and a dash of paint (eyes), pinecones (noses), and curvy sticks (mouths) to make tree faces. Using wood glue or hammer and nails (with adult assistance), kids can turn the trees in their yard into an audience for their next winter soccer game!
5. Giving Back
Consider nurturing philanthropy in your kids this winter by helping vulnerable members of your community. One of the easiest charitable winter activities for kids is to collect gently worn jackets from family, friends and neighbors, then donate them to a local charity capable of delivering to those in need.
Once you complete these five winter activities, have fun with even more outdoor activities for kids!
